Getting To Know…. Dayna Porter

Dayna Porter has recently joined Spencer Travel’s sales team through an internal promotion. She has worked in the travel industry for quite a few years and shares with us why she is so passionate about this industry. We also learn more about her favourite travel destinations and what her travel top tips are: 

What do you like about the travel industry and what are you looking forward to in your role at Spencer?

“I love the travel industry and everything that comes with it. The diversity is what I love the most, no day is ever the same – more so at the moment in these crazy times.  I hadn’t travelled a lot prior to working in this industry and it has opened my eyes to what can be seen and experienced, for this I am extremely grateful.

My new role as an Account Manager is going to challenge me and I am excited to take on this challenge and to learn new things during the journey. My team is extremely knowledgeable, I am really looking forward to working closely with all of them, learning from them and bouncing ideas off one another.”

What’s your favourite travel destination?

“This is always the hardest question to answer, I find it so difficult to narrow down so I will give you a few of my favourites…. You may also notice a common theme – seaside, sun drenched locations are definitely my holiday style.  I am a self-proclaimed scout and researcher for “best beaches worldwide countdowns”. Read More...

Getting To Know… Adrian Gonzalez

Adrian Gonzalez recently started at Spencer Travel in the role of National Account Manager. Adrian has been working in the travel for quite some years and shares with us he why he is so passionate about this industry. We also learn more about his favourite travel destinations and what his travel top tips are.

What do you like about the travel agency and what are you looking forward to in your role at Spencer? 

“It’s such a dynamic industry with so much going on and always something new to learn. It’s different everyday – no two days are ever the same,” says Adrian.

“I enjoy assisting clients to improve their overall travel program and adding value. Spencer Travel is a well-known and respected brand within the travel industry. The culture and values sit very well with me. I look forward to bringing in some fresh new ideas to the team, further growing and rising together.”

What’s your favorite travel destination? 

“This would have to be Europe, with Spain being my personal favorite. The food, culture and people all make me smile. Peru also holds a special place for me, with Cuzco and Machu Picchu as the highlights.”  

What’s your top travel tip? 

“Avoid bank cards with fees. ING Everyday will refund all ATM fees as an example. Buy a local sim card if staying for an extended time. Take a can of Bushman insect repellent for any exotic locations and make sure to keep it in your checked luggage unless under 100ml.”  

GETTING TO KNOW… DEB COLLINS

Deb is Spencer Travel’s leisure consultant for our corporate clients.

What she loves about her job:

“My clients and the Spencer team. We feed off each other, and help one another when necessary,” says Deb.

“I love working for Spencer Travel. Penny Spencer is such a generous boss. The educational and training opportunities I have had, plus the many travel experiences, have made me the consultant I am today.”    

Her favourite travel destinations:

“I have many favourites, but there are a few travel memories that really stand out. Firstly, my most recent trip to the Maldives, where we experienced the floating breakfast at the Waldorf Astoria – it was out of this world. Another trip that brings back great memories is travelling through Africa with my Dad, an unbelievable experience.”

“And lastly, India with my husband. We had the pleasure of visiting and staying at the beautiful Taj palaces. The displays of colour everywhere you go and the people. Amazing!” Read More…

The Must Have Apps for Business Travellers

Whether you’re going for a business travel or for just a few days or for several weeks, time management and efficiency can often mean the difference between rousing success and debilitating stress.

Technology plays a big part in this; specifically, smartphone apps, many of which have come after many years of trial and error in their attempts to expedite travel necessities and avoid any mishaps.

Not sure which ones you should be downloading? Theupsider.com.au has rounded up a few of the best. 

These are the essential apps every savvy business traveller should have – aside from the obvious Drop box, Google Maps, Google Translate, WhatsApp and the many ride-sharing services, of course.

Drops

Let’s face it, brushing up on a new language beyond a few phrases often demands more time than you may have. That’s where an audio-visual learning app like Drops comes in.

Particularly if you’re on a last-minute trip, Drops is a valuable program for those who need help building, strengthening and maintaining their vocabulary in any of 32 different languages, which include Japanese, Korean, French, German and Portuguese.

Through a rote learning approach and a clean, attractive interface, the app successfully gamifies the time-consuming task of building a sufficient vocabulary in another language, doing so in engaging and meaningful ways that don’t feel tedious or demanding.

This is mostly done through gestures, whether it’s swiping a word towards the correct illustration or re-constructing broken words by syllable. And it frames that with time constraints as well, allowing you just five minutes per day on the unpaid version, and while that may not seem like much, the app does pack a lot in that short span.  Read More…